A senior Labour MP has accused an ally of Jeremy Corbyn of “unacceptable” intimidating behaviour in a dispute over an internal party election.

Lucy Powell, the former shadow education secretary, was among those who objected to the treatment of Katrina Murray at a closed-door session of the National Policy Forum on Saturday.

Ms Murray, the forum’s acting chairwoman, was forced to abandon an election for the full-time post by Andy Kerr, an ally of Mr Corbyn who leads the National Executive Committee, Labour’s ruling body.

The ballot to elect a new chairman was put off after it was ruled that insufficient time had been allowed for the process. Ms Murray tried to press on with the contested vote anyway, leading Mr Kerr to push her…

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